ST. GEORGE – On Wednesday, October 13, the Southern Utah Songwriters Association held a benefit concert for Dixie Care and Share.
 
Hosted by Yvonne Wall, a founding member of SUSWA, the benefit concert was held at the Eccles Fine Arts Main Stage at Dixie State College. Roughly two hours long, the concert featured select members of SUSWA, as well as an appearance by Adam Dunn, chairman of Dixie Care and Share’s board of trustees.
 
As he addressed the audience that evening, Dunn expressed thanks to SUSWA and the performing artists who were, “giving back to the community.” He also related how, along with continual donations and food and volunteer support, the Care and Share needed financial support. As a local, non-profit charity aimed to helping those who are going through hard times, Dunn reminded people that Dixie Care and Share was much more than just a food bank.  
 
Dixie Care and Share is also an emergency shelter, offering up to 55 beds at a time. Showers, meals, transitional housing, job-search opportunities, and case management are also among the services offered to those in need. 
 
“Every dollar given is multiplied seven fold,” Dunn said, noting that donations of food and volunteer time helps stretch every dollar used.
 
Along with Bunn, Yvonne Wall also shared her thanks with the musicians performing and the audience that came to support the event. The concert was a “humanitarian effort to make a difference in our corner of the world,” Wall said, and added that Dixie Care and Share is “a wonderful place to get a hand up.”
 
The concert started out with Random Simplicity, winner of SUSWA’s 2009 Open Mic competition, followed by Open Mic finalists Jake Probert and Jenny Lewis. Yvonne Wall, Loni Stookey, and Nic Chamberlin performed next with a blend of country-western and folk music. The concert then continued with Sam Lutui and the band Evolution, which entertained the crowd with lively reggae beats.
 
Rounding out the show were the Honky Tonk Heroes led by Rich Panessa, SUSWA’s current president. As they proceeded to cover a number of county hits, other members of SUSWA took cowboy hats and passed them to the audience, gathering donations as they went.
 
By the end of the cowboy hat collections, nearly $500 had been donated. Another $500 was collected in the foyer at the conclusion of the concert.
 
The night ended with a hardy thanks to the audience, and closed out with each act coming on stage and singing Youngblood’s 1960’s anthem, “Get Together.”
 
Afterwards, Wall reported that over 100 people came to the benefit concert and over $1,000 was collected for the Dixie Care and Share. “While it's far from our expectations,” Wall added, “it's not bad given the low turnout.”
 
SUSWA’s original goal was to sell 500 tickets, thus filling the Eccles Main Stage Theater. Despite this shortfall, Wall said that the benefit concert was “a great show,” and was happy for the chance to support Dixie Care and Share.
 
For more information on Dixie Care and Share, please visit: http://dixiecareandshare.org/.
Additional information on SUSWA can be found at: http://suswa.net.